Profiles: Roy Wood

Roy describes his first 'knock-about' at Riley's Gym

Roy Wood learned the art of Catch-as-catch-can at the world famous Riley’s gym.

He was one of the last wrestlers to be trained by Billy Riley and now continues the legacy of the gym at the Aspull Olypmic Wrestling Club.

Roy is now the Northern Area representative for the British Amateur Wrestling Association.

Over recent years, he has been actively involved in promoting amateur wrestling – having introduced the sport into a number of Lancashire schools. Teachers are the first to admit the remarkably positive impact it has had on many pupils.

Building links with the East: one of several international tournaments

Seen as part of the true lineage of Catch wrestling, Roy has been invited over to Japan a number of times by Tatsumi Fujinami and the New Japan wrestling organisation, to share his skills.

Roy has helped to put on specific Lancashire wrestling tournaments there – and has taken out Wigan wrestlers who he has coached in the traditional submission style.

Among others, the British Bulldog and the Dynamite have experienced the benefit of Roy’s coaching.

However, Aspull’’s main focus is now on Amateur Wrestling and Roy has trained a number of recent prospects, including Wigan’s highly regarded Paul Stridgeon.

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